Ask around and there’s a good chance you’ll get all sorts of ideas on how to avoid paying a broker’s fee. Here are a few of the approaches past urban renters have tried.

The walkabout

Some people claim you can simply walk around the neighborhood where you’d like to live. While on tour, they claim you can look for properties with posted vacancy signs. When you find one you like, you call the number of the building’s property manager and negotiate a deal.

Sounds pretty simple, but you probably won’t make much progress using this method. More often than not, the person you talk to will refer you back to a broker.

The stealth approach

Others will tell you to deal with the broker—in the beginning—and after you’re taken to a property you’re interested in, you ditch the broker. They claim that with a bit of sleuthing, you can learn the name of the landlord/building manager and then approach him directly to negotiate your best deal.

Again, this sounds good, but there a few problems. First, smart brokers make you sign a contract stating that you agree to pay a fee if you end up renting a unit that the broker showed you. Once you sign something like this, you’re legally bound to pay the fee! Even if the landlord did rent to you without a broker’s knowledge, the broker likely would find out and insist that someone pay their fee.

There are other approaches, but chances are they’re illegal, unethical, or simply not feasible. Let’s face it; brokers are in the business to make money. The ones with experience know all the tricks and know what it takes to get the fees they’ve negotiated.

So what’s the secret?

All you have to do is find a full-service real estate company (www.jysonproperties.com) that gets paid by property owners or landlords rather than tenants.

See, property owners have just as great a stake in finding the right tenants as you have in finding the right rental property. And many are willing to pay to make sure that happens.

It’s legal, it’s simple, and it works.

What will you do with all that extra money?

With broker fees equal to several months’ rent or some insane percentage of the annual rent, you could easily save thousands of dollars. That’s a lot of money to pay a broker who does little more than give you forms to fill out and show you a few properties.

Instead of paying a broker, why not put that money towards your security deposit or buy new furniture. Or maybe you could throw one heck of a moving in party!

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There are hundreds of people that are living in apartments instead of investing because of the money that is needed up front, as well as the changes that are needed for income level. At the same time, there are programs that recognize this and are available to help those in need to find a first home. If you have a stable income, you also have the ability to move out of throwing away your money.

One area that you can look in for a first home is the grant programs that are available. Each locality will have different programs, most which are easy to qualify for. The programs will vary according to your living situation and what you need. For example, several grant programs will give you money simply to be in a first house, while others will give grants to special situations, such as beginning your own business. Looking into things such as ‘neighborhood goal’ can help you find something that won’t take your money with no return every month.

If you aren’t certain what program will work for you, simply ask your real estate agent. Most of the time, they will be familiar with the programs and should be able to help you with what is available. By the time you move into your first home, you will either have everything in the initial investments paid for you, will receive money back, or will have some financial support to help you get started.

Making investments in your first home does not necessarily mean saving up thousands in order to get in the door. It simply means finding the programs that are willing to help you pack and move and taking advantage of what is available in your area. With a little bit of research and a little help, you can stop paying rent and move into an investment.

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